The Norman Invasion

In 1066 William, the Duke of Normandy, began to gather an army to invade Britain. The pretext for the in­vasion was William’s claims to the English throne. He was related to the king who died in 1066.

According to the English law it was the Witenagemot that chose the next king. If the late king left a grown-up son he was almost sure to be chosen; if not, the King’s Council of wise men would offer the Crown to some other near relative of the dead king. The king who died in 1066 had no children and Duke William cherished the hope that he would succeed to the English throne. But the Witenagemot chose another relative of the deceased king, the Anglo-Saxon Earl, Ha­rold. William of Normandy claimed that England belonged to him and he began prep­arations for a war to fight for the Crown.

William sent messengers far and wide to invite the fightingmen of Western Eu­rope to join his forces. He called upon all the Christian warriors of Europe to help him gain his rights to the English throne. No pay was offered, but William prom­ised land to all who would support him. William also asked the Roman Pope for his support. He promised to strengthen the Pope’s power over the English Church. And the Church with the Roman Pope at the head blessed his campaign and called it a holy war. There were many fighting men who were ready to join Wil­liam’s army since it was understood that English lands would be given to the victors.

William mustered a numerous army which consisted not only of the Norman barons and knights but of the knights from other parts of France. Many big sailing-boats were built to carry the army across the Channel. William landed in the south of England and the battle between the Normans and the Anglo-Saxons took place on the 14th of October 1066 at a little village in the neighbourhood of the town now called Hastings.